18th-Ranked Wildcats Set for Labor Day Matchup vs. UCLA
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Wildcats are set to continue their current five-match homestand with a Labor Day matchup against the UCLA Bruins on Monday afternoon at The Bell Soccer Complex.
The Wildcats are in the midst of a 2-0 start at the top of the 2025 schedule, kicking off the season with a 2-1 win over No. 20 Western Michigan and 1-0 win in the home opener against Bellarmine. Newcomers Alex Ruiz and Joaquin Brizuela have enjoyed a strong start to their Wildcat careers, with Ruiz becoming the first player in program history to record a brace in his first career UK appearance, and Brizuela scoring a penalty to lift UK over Bellarmine.
Following the 2-0 start, the Wildcats entered the United Soccer Coaches latest national poll for the first time in a near calendar year, coming in at No. 18. Kentucky features as one of three ranked teams in the Sun Belt Conference in this week’s poll, alongside No. 2 Marshall and No. 10 West Virginia.
Kentucky is also in the middle of a five-match homestand, coming off the win over Bellarmine last week. The matchup vs. UCLA will feature as the second game of the homestand, followed by matchups against Detroit Mercy (Sept. 9) and Bowling Green (Sept. 14), as well as the Sun Belt Conference opener against UCF on Sept. 19.
Monday’s game at The Bell will feature as the first ever meeting between Kentucky and UCLA, the lone first-time opponent for the Wildcats this season.
UCLA travels to Lexington entering the third week of the season with a 0-2-1 record, coming off a 1-1 draw at home to Cal State Fullerton. The Bruins have also garnered results against now ranked No. 17 Cal in a 1-0 loss and against UC Irvine in a 2-0 loss in the season opener.
Kickoff for the Wildcats matchup against the Bruins is set for 1 p.m. ET at The Bell Soccer Complex. The promotional theme for the match is International Day, as fans are encouraged to wear their favorite international team jersey. Admission to all Kentucky soccer matches this season is free to all fans.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s soccer team, follow @UKMensSoccer on X, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
